A former North Naples diamond shop owner who evaded taxes for years and bought stolen diamond rings, gold chains, watches and jewelry from undercover deputies has been sentenced to probation.



According to the Naples News, Lawrence “Lorenzo” Brian Klein, 45, the former owner of "International Diamond Exchange" off Naples Boulevard, pleaded no contest to failing to pay $20,000 to $100,000 in sales taxes, tax evasion by failing to file six consecutive tax returns, refusing to file tax returns, and grand theft involving the stolen jewelry. In court, he handed over a $50,000 check to the state Department of Revenue.



Under a plea bargain, the court sentenced Klein to time served in county jail – one day – for the grand theft and two years of probation for the remaining charges. Twenty misdemeanor tax charges were dropped.



“The Florida Department of Revenue seemed anxious to receive this money and thought the plea agreement was in the state taxpayers’ best interests,” the prosecutor said, adding that Klein also agreed to pay $9,800 in investigative costs to the state tax department.



One creditor, Peru Associates, filed an involuntary bankruptcy against him in 2004 to force him to pay a $15,405.80 debt, which he satisfied a year later. Last year, the owner of his Fort Myers property filed eviction proceedings against him and he defaulted.